Cervical Spine Musculoskeletal Key

The Cervical Spine Musculoskeletal Key Anatomically and functionally, the cervical spine can be divided into two segments. the upper segment consists of the atlas and the axis (c1 and c2). its structure is designed for mobility, with approximately one third of cervical flexion and extension and over half of axial rotation occurring at this level ( mercer & bogduk 2001 ). The cervical spine is a complex mechanical linkage composed of multiple degrees of freedom of movement about each of its joints and at least 20 pairs of muscles, many of which are capable of performing similar actions. 52 it is estimated that the osseoligamentous system contributes 20% to the mechanical stability of the cervical spine while 80%.

Anatomy Of The Cervical Spine Musculoskeletal Key The lower cervical spine (c3 to c7) is called the cervicobrachial area, since pain in this area is commonly referred into the upper extremity. 2, 3 pathology in this region leads to neck pain alone, arm pain alone, or both neck and arm pain. thus, symptoms include neck and or arm pain, headaches, restricted range of motion (rom), paresthesia. Hold and secure the distal phalanx of the long finger, and then flick the distal phalanx into an extended position. involuntary contraction of the thumb ip joint is a positive test. lhermitte sign. a positive test is specific, but not sensitive, for cervical spinal cord compression and myelopathy. Cervical spondylosis, also called arthritis of the neck, is the age related slow degeneration of your disks and joints in your cervical spine. cervical spinal cord injury. a cervical spinal cord injury is an injury to your cervical vertebrae. most spinal cord injuries are the result of a sudden, traumatic blow to the vertebrae. Observe the patient’s posture in standing and sitting. as a part of the examination, postural deviations can be corrected to determine the effect on the patient’s signs and symptoms. common postural deviations: protracted cervical spine or forward head posture. protracted shoulder girdle and rounded shoulders.